Have You Ever Wondered?

For those of you that scrapbook, have you ever wondered how a product gets conceptualized and created? Here's a little insight into how we do it at Scenic Route.

Both Sarah and I scrapbook. When we start a brainstorming session for new products, we always put on our 'scrapbooker hats', so to speak, and think about what we wish we had to scrapbook with, but don't have. Sometimes that happens during our brainstorming sessions, and sometimes it happens long before, like when we're actually scrapping.

And that's how the idea of these guys started - our white and worn grid covered chipboard albums.

I pretty much stick to layouts when I 'scrapbook'. I make a few cards here and there, but that's about it. Every once in a blue moon I'll make a mini book, but the moon has to be pretty blue for that to happen.

Why? If you've made mini books in the past, you probably already know the answer to that question. They're a pain in the *** to cover. By the time I have the book covered, I'm done. Finished. Kaput. Mind you, I haven't even started the fun part at that point yet, but I'm done. D.O.N.E.

After getting out the Mod Podge or PVA, the X-acto knife and covering page after page after page, I want nothing to do with actually putting something in or on the mini book.

A few months ago I started making this book. I'd signed up for one of Shimelle's online classes - I'm always on the teaching end of a class, so I thought it would be fun for once to be on the student end of a class The class was called 'A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words', and I was determined to get it done. The premise behind the class was to create a mini book with 10 of your favorite photos to display on your coffee table. Your own design, your own photos, you pick the product you use and the book you use - you get the drift. Despite the fact that I finished my book 3+ months after the class, I finished it.

What was almost the death of me was covering the stinkin' book! 20 pages total. 20 pages of Mod Podge and an X-acto knife - over and over and over. 20 times. I did it to myself. It didn't have to be 20 pages, I bit off more than I could chew and I was ready to spit it out around page 3, and that was even before I started adding anything to the book, mind you....

In the middle of it I thought to myself, 'boy, I sure wish I had one of these books that was already covered with our white grid background that I'm using'.

Ding, ding, ding!

And that's how our background covered chipboard albums came to life.

If you haven't tried them, pick one up. Can't tell you how much easier it makes creating a mini book. All of the pages are covered, not just the front. We used our white and worn grid backgrounds on these books because they're so basic you can pretty much add anything to them. They currently come in 3 shapes - 8" square, 7" circle, and the rectangular tabbed album. And they're inexpensive. Really. Especially when you consider what it would cost you to buy a plain album. And the paper to cover it. And your TIME to cover it. And if you're a complete and utter total SPAZ with an X-acto knife like me, the stinkin' Bandaids that surely go along with using said X-acto knife...

If you've tried to find them and can't, don't give up! These guys are literally flying out of our warehouse. In fact, we've had to re-order from the company that makes them for us.

If you're interested in seeing the rest of my finished album, I added a photo album on the left side of my blog with all of the pages.

And if you follow along with our Monthly Product Challenges on our website, stay tuned. You just might see a challenge in a few months using one of our covered albums.... ;)

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Have You Ever Wondered?

For those of you that scrapbook, have you ever wondered how a product gets conceptualized and created? Here's a little insight into how we do it at Scenic Route.

Both Sarah and I scrapbook. When we start a brainstorming session for new products, we always put on our 'scrapbooker hats', so to speak, and think about what we wish we had to scrapbook with, but don't have. Sometimes that happens during our brainstorming sessions, and sometimes it happens long before, like when we're actually scrapping.

And that's how the idea of these guys started - our white and worn grid covered chipboard albums.

I pretty much stick to layouts when I 'scrapbook'. I make a few cards here and there, but that's about it. Every once in a blue moon I'll make a mini book, but the moon has to be pretty blue for that to happen.

Why? If you've made mini books in the past, you probably already know the answer to that question. They're a pain in the *** to cover. By the time I have the book covered, I'm done. Finished. Kaput. Mind you, I haven't even started the fun part at that point yet, but I'm done. D.O.N.E.

After getting out the Mod Podge or PVA, the X-acto knife and covering page after page after page, I want nothing to do with actually putting something in or on the mini book.

A few months ago I started making this book. I'd signed up for one of Shimelle's online classes - I'm always on the teaching end of a class, so I thought it would be fun for once to be on the student end of a class The class was called 'A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words', and I was determined to get it done. The premise behind the class was to create a mini book with 10 of your favorite photos to display on your coffee table. Your own design, your own photos, you pick the product you use and the book you use - you get the drift. Despite the fact that I finished my book 3+ months after the class, I finished it.

What was almost the death of me was covering the stinkin' book! 20 pages total. 20 pages of Mod Podge and an X-acto knife - over and over and over. 20 times. I did it to myself. It didn't have to be 20 pages, I bit off more than I could chew and I was ready to spit it out around page 3, and that was even before I started adding anything to the book, mind you....

In the middle of it I thought to myself, 'boy, I sure wish I had one of these books that was already covered with our white grid background that I'm using'.

Ding, ding, ding!

And that's how our background covered chipboard albums came to life.

If you haven't tried them, pick one up. Can't tell you how much easier it makes creating a mini book. All of the pages are covered, not just the front. We used our white and worn grid backgrounds on these books because they're so basic you can pretty much add anything to them. They currently come in 3 shapes - 8" square, 7" circle, and the rectangular tabbed album. And they're inexpensive. Really. Especially when you consider what it would cost you to buy a plain album. And the paper to cover it. And your TIME to cover it. And if you're a complete and utter total SPAZ with an X-acto knife like me, the stinkin' Bandaids that surely go along with using said X-acto knife...

If you've tried to find them and can't, don't give up! These guys are literally flying out of our warehouse. In fact, we've had to re-order from the company that makes them for us.

If you're interested in seeing the rest of my finished album, I added a photo album on the left side of my blog with all of the pages.

And if you follow along with our Monthly Product Challenges on our website, stay tuned. You just might see a challenge in a few months using one of our covered albums.... ;)

Ahh, December Daily! So excited to participate again this year. Hard to believe this is year number 4 for me. I've really enjoyed looking back at the past 3 years books to get motivated to jump in again this year!

2010 December Daily Mini Book
On Day 2 of this year's book, Jack, my 13 year old son, said to me "I'm glad you're making one of those books again this year mom, they're really cool". Makes it totally worth it when all is said and done!

A super fun, easy & creative challenge I'm participating in called Listers Gotta List, brainchild of Cori, The Reset Girl. Get all of the details on http://listersgottalist.com. Follow me on instagram - @laylekoncar - to see my daily lists as I complete them!